Look out, it's thje one with the Crazy Chick AND the Crazy Frog on it! (Now That's What I Call Music! 61)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	Now That's What I Call Music! 61
Date:	27/10/09 (24 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great first disc, some really good music on here

Disadvantages: The separation of the tracks, and some of the tracks I just didn't like

The second of three Now That's What I Call Music albums to be released in 2005, Now 61 contains much of the music made popular over the late Spring and early Summer of this year. It ioncorporates a lot of clinically good music, and while not being so much the smash hit poppy album, it certainly has some elements of technical musical brilliance.

As an album, it is quirky in its construction, with the charts in that year seeing the dawn of a few new stars shining through as well as a couple of previous stars returning for glory, so it's a case of in with new AND in with the old.

The first disc starts off with a song that was initially massively accepted, James Blunt's You're Beautiful, before Blunt stopped being quite so cool and was regarded as a bit wet. The track itself isn't half as powerful without the mesmerising video, but is still well written and emotionally performed, and is the first indication of a new star. Elton John's collaboration with pre-recorded 2Pac tune Ghetto Gospel went down a hit, showing that the 88keys man can adapt with the times, and Coldplay's Speed of Sound was a cult hit that I found quite soothing to listen to. Black Eyed Peas were fresh and early here, and Don't Funk With Ma Heart is quite a tame and underconfident track compared with their more recent 'out there' releases. Entries also from KT Tunstall, Razorlight and The Killers were considered to be the new age of a more indie look to what was formerly Britpop, tweaking it and making it more about the vocals and musical abilities of the singers, while U2's Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own has its own haunting style that shows us they are still on top form. It ends the first disc brilliantly.

Disc 2 I didn't find to be quite as impressive. I wasn't a fan of Akon's Lonely, so it didn't kick off well for me. Looking down the track listing, it's clear that for this album release they have decided to thoroughly separate the styles of music, with the hip hop and RnB tracks, as well as the soulful ballads, being sectioned at the beginning of this disc, with Mario, Wil Smith and Nelly mixing it up with Faith Evans and the soulful Joss Stone. Then, in the middle, comes Charlotte Church's Crazy Chick. This was a grower on me, I didn't like it at first, but it was eventually one I found I liked listening to. However, being sandwiched between the previous style and then the dancier tunes towards the end, it wasn't perhaps the best placement, and nor was Rachel Stevens' So Good.

The disc ends quite well, with Tony Christie's Avenues and Alleyways and Girls Aloud's Wake Up out alongside McFly's You've Got A Friend and the annoying Crazy Frog tune from Axel F (oh, the bloody ringtones!!!).

Overall, a well put together album, but nothing special. The first disc was better than the second, for me, and while it was overall okay, I didn't like the separation of the styles of music. I know this is expected of the Now series, but I just prefer it when they mix it up a little. Now 61 is currently available from amazon.co.uk for £6.39. It's not the greatest Now release, but it contains some brilliant music from 2005, and is well woirth a listen.

Summary: The second Now release of 2005